Getting ready on the morning of your wedding should be just as big a part of your special day as the ceremony itself. Getting married is one of life's biggest and most precious milestones. What makes it unique is that unlike a birthday or birth of a new baby, you share almost every moment it with all your friends and family present.

It's fair to say that all the planning and preparation that goes into creating the wedding of your dreams can take a lot of time and hard work. It's a fun and exciting process but not one without its stressful moments, which is why making sure the time you give to getting ready on the morning of your wedding should be as relaxed and as enjoyable as possible, in spite of any nerves you might be feeling before the ceremony. So with all that said, what can you do to make sure everything goes to plan?

The night before, hang your dress and lay out your shoes and accessories

Making sure everything is in place before you go to sleep will help you feel relaxed and in control. Make a list beforehand of everything you need to do and take the time to hang up all the dresses, both yours and your bridesmaids', organise everybody's accessories and remove all the tags and labels from all new items. If you plan on carrying a small clutch bag with you, now's a good time to make sure it's packed ready to go with the items you'll need throughout the day.

Get a good night's sleep

You're bound to be feeling both nervous and excited but a restful night is important. A nice bath and fresh, clean sheets are a must and if your mind is racing we'd recommend a good meditation app or soothing music to quiet your thoughts and practice a bit of mindfulness to help you drift off to sleep.

Don't forget the most important meal of the day

Anxiety may make you feel like you don't want to eat but making sure you have something, even just a small breakfast, will set you up for the day. Fresh fruit, yoghurt or something like oats or granola will be a healthy choice that won't leave you feeling too full up. If you are staying at the venue or a hotel, make sure to order for room service delivery the night before.

Know your hair and beauty routine

Hopefully, you will have trialled your makeup and hair with your MUA and stylist beforehand and have established how long each part will take. Make sure you know exactly how to prepare both your skin and hair before they arrive as some things may need to be done the night before. Each person in your bridal party should know what time they are due to take their turn with hair and makeup too, to avoid any confusion. Also, don't forget to try out any new beauty products well ahead of time, just in case you experience any unexpected results or reactions!

Look your best ALL day

If your photographer will be taking photos of everyone getting ready then you'll want everyone to be looking their best. Swap out everyone's regular pyjamas and loungewear for a beautiful set of matching pyjamas or even a set of luxury personalised gowns.

Set the atmosphere

For an extra boost of calm, choose a beautifully scented oil diffuser to fill the air with a pleasant and calming aroma. If you've chosen specific scented flowers for your celebrations, why not choose matching or complementary scents? Prepare in advance a music playlist of songs to set the mood and don't forget to pack a bluetooth speaker if you're staying away from home.

Raise a toast!

Pop a bottle something sparkly and enjoy a glass of bubbly with your bridal party to start the celebrations but remember, just a little! You've still got a wedding to get to!

Choose your party well

Remember when we said that getting ready on the morning of your wedding should be special? When planning your day, make sure you get to spend that precious morning time surrounded by the ones who will love and support you best. To free yourself from any potential last-minute panic, choose someone you trust to be your on-the-day point of contact for taking care of queries about any of the arrangements. If you're going to be spending time around your photographer or stylists, get to know them beforehand so that you can be confident that they're going to help contribute to exactly the kind of atmosphere you want to enjoy as you get ready.

Give yourself time

Aim for everyone to be ready one hour before you are set to leave. This will provide a contingency for any part of getting ready that may overrun or even allow extra time for you to enjoy with your bridal party, ahead of the ceremony itself. All in all, giving yourself the feeling of not being rushed will help you to relax and enjoy everything the day offers, while you get on with getting ready on the morning of your wedding.

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